Farewell

Now that his grandmaster had left, Su Yu felt at ease. Hong Tan hadn't pressed for answers, which was just as Su Yu had anticipated. The members of the Multiple Divine Characters Faction placed great value on this principle: each person possessed their own fortunate encounters. Your opportunity was yours alone, unless you chose to speak of it yourself. In truth, most experts shared this mindset. You had your opportunities, and I had mine. Only a rare few constantly fixated on the fortunes of others, because one could never be certain whether someone else’s opportunity could even be seized, or whether it would be of any use once obtained. “Tengkong…” Su Yu murmured. It was still too early. He had no desire to break through to Tengkong so quickly. Divine character battle techniques could be dismantled. In fact, he could advance right now simply by assembling a technique from his eight divine characters. With his willpower already past ninety percent, reaching Tengkong was not far off at all. If the only goal was to break the record set by that genius in the Great Zhou Prefecture, plenty of people were capable of doing so. Setting everyone else aside, at least five or six members of this year’s freshman class were on the verge of breaking through to Tengkong. Reaching Tengkong in half a year had once seemed a distant dream, but in reality, it wasn't so far out of reach—it was just another step. Pursuing such a record for its own sake was completely meaningless. “Fortunately, no outsider knows how much willpower I siphoned this time.” Only a handful of people were aware of what had truly happened. Keep a low profile! Just as Headmaster Wan had warned, he needed to keep his head down. This time around, he felt he had managed to stay relatively unobtrusive. Had he contested them openly and brazenly, then even if he won in the end, it would only have invited mounting troubles and caught the attention of powerful figures. “Seclusion! Time to nurse my injuries!” Su Yu made up his mind. Grandmaster was entering closed-door cultivation, so he would do the same. He had to tend to his wounds! He was injured this time, and quite severely at that. As for the research institute, the Multiple Divine Characters training class, the Mutual Aid Society, the Single-Slayer Society… all of them could wait. And as for the demon beasts locked below… a few days of starvation wouldn't kill them. Su Yu couldn't be bothered with them right now. The next time he went down there, it would be to tame them. Without breaking their pride first, those wild, rebellious creatures would never submit. …… Su Yu and the others had emerged from the mystic realm on October 26. On October 27, good news followed good news throughout the Great Xia Civilization Academy. Zhan Hai broke through, stepping into the Tengkong Realm. His physical body and willpower advanced simultaneously. Building his foundation that very day with god race blood essence, he surged straight into the third tier of the Tengkong Realm in a single day—at least in terms of physical cultivation. At the same time, Liu Hong effortlessly broke through to the Lingyun Realm. Along with Hu Wensheng, the Single Divine Character Faction gained two new Lingyun experts, finally salvaging a great deal of face for themselves. Hu Wensheng and Liu Hong were both appointed to the rank of junior researcher. In addition, the genius teaching assistant Wu Qi set off for the All-Heavens Battlefield, intending to forge her breakthrough through the Dao of slaughter and step into the Lingyun Realm there. Of the geniuses from that generation, aside from Bai Feng, every one of them was now walking the path toward Lingyun. As for Bai Feng… he remained heavily injured, a fact that left many people lamenting in regret. Among the prodigies of that cohort, Bai Feng had met the most miserable fate. On top of that, he would soon have to depart for the All-Heavens Battlefield and join the Vanguard Camp, where life and death hung by a thread. …… For several days in a row, Su Yu was nowhere to be seen. Rumors spread that he had been grievously injured when the mystic realm shattered, leaving his sea of will severely destabilized. This prompted many to sigh in pity. He had fought so hard, winning match after match, only to enter the mystic realm and suffer severe wounds. One could only chalk it up to fate. …… Not until November 1 did Su Yu finally emerge from the research institute. His face looked somewhat pale. It was merely the pallor of someone who hadn't seen sunlight for several days, yet at this moment, it made him appear remarkably frail. Outside the door, Wu Jia looked at him with heartache and asked, “Junior Brother, are your injuries all right?” “I’m fine!” Su Yu smiled and looked at Wu Jia, offering his congratulations. “Congratulations, Senior Sister!” Wu Jia had broken through to the Wanshi Realm! Her Yangxing cultivation had also truly reached peak Yangxing, and she had opened eight divine apertures. It was a respectable accomplishment—or rather, exceptionally good. At this point, she could already begin preparing for her breakthrough into the Tengkong Realm. Beside them, Chen Yong laughed and said, “She only just reached Wanshi. What’s there to congratulate? On the other hand, you… when are you stepping into Wanshi?” “Soon.” Su Yu indeed intended to delve into aperture merging in the coming days. In fact, over the past few days, he had been contemplating aperture merging even as he cultivated. As for divine apertures, after returning and absorbing the stored willpower over the last few days, he had only managed to open a total of one hundred and four. It fell short of his original expectations, but it was still quite impressive. He had stopped obsessing over divine apertures for now, deciding to break through to Wanshi first. “Yes, but aperture merging might prove a bit difficult for you…” Chen Yong nodded slightly. “You practice the Heaven Cleaving Saber, which requires merging a full sixteen apertures for a perfect integration. Jiajia only practices the War God Art, which allows one to step into Wanshi after merging twelve apertures…” Su Yu smiled and asked, “Senior Sister, how many apertures have you merged so far?” Advancing required merging only two apertures. Since Wu Jia had reached the Wanshi Realm so rapidly, she likely hadn't merged many. Wu Jia grinned. “Ten apertures! I had already merged seven previously, and over these past few days, I merged a few more. The moment I hit ten, I broke through right away. That makes me a true Wanshi!” Ten merged apertures made one a true Wanshi. Chen Yong sighed helplessly. “I told her to merge twelve apertures before stepping into Wanshi, but she wouldn't listen. She insisted that since you were already at ninth-tier Qianjun, staying behind would make her lose face, so she rushed it… Forget it. She can try merging the rest later, though it will be somewhat more difficult.” Even after stepping into Wanshi, one could still continue merging apertures. Unmerged apertures from before could still be integrated, but the repulsive force between them would be greater, raising the difficulty slightly. Having advanced after merging ten apertures, Wu Jia would find merging the final two harder than before. Wu Jia didn't mind in the slightest. She grinned and said, “Ten apertures is already amazing, all right? Master, even if I went to the War Academy, I’d be considered a genuine physical genius. Your standards are just too high!” “You…” Chen Yong looked at her with affectionate indulgence, chuckled, and said no more. Indeed, it was enough. Pushing her any harder would only demoralize the girl. Stepping into Wanshi now was fine as well; she could focus entirely on cultivating her willpower. “Master, I’m still very impressive! My willpower is almost full. Once I outline two more divine characters, I’ll be ready to break through…” Break through to Tengkong! Wu Jia calculated, “At the latest, by early next year—less than three years after enrolling—I’ll be able to step into Tengkong! Master, I’ll be even faster than Martial Uncle!” Chen Yong was caught between tears and laughter. “Your martial uncle outlined far more divine characters than you, and his mastery of knowledge far exceeded yours. Besides, times were tough back then; your martial uncle never had the opportunities you have today.” He didn't elaborate further, sighing with emotion before turning to Su Yu. “Let’s go. It’s time to see your master off.” Today was the day of departure. Bai Feng and the others were leaving! Departing for the All-Heavens Battlefield! At these words, Su Yu’s expression dimmed slightly, though he quickly composed himself and smiled. “Then let’s go see Master off.” The group made their way outside. …… Just as they reached the academy gates, they saw another crowd gathered to see someone off. The person departing was none other than Zheng Yuming. By now, Zheng Yuming’s physical body had recovered, though his face remained somewhat pale. Behind him stood several members of the Guards. These men would escort them to the All-Heavens Battlefield—or rather, guard them on the journey to ensure none of them fled halfway to join the All-Races Sect. Zhou Mingren had personally escorted his disciple to the gates and stood to one side, silent. Several of Zheng Yuming’s students were present as well. Some of them noticed Su Yu and his companions. Seeing Su Yu in particular made their expressions turn foul. Zheng Yuming’s injuries and his banishment to the All-Heavens Battlefield were both tied directly to Su Yu. That bastard! They wished they could kill him on the spot. Su Yu, however, remained completely calm, walking past them in silence. They hated him? What about his own feelings? Bai Feng and Liu Wenyan—one who had opened his path to cultivation and the other his official master—had both been punished with exile to the All-Heavens Battlefield. Their penalties were far steeper: a ten-to-one ratio! Bai Feng had to kill ten Lingyun experts to expiate his crime, while Liu Wenyan… unless he reached the Sun and Moon Realm, he could practically abandon all hope of returning. Going strictly by the rules of the Great Xia Prefecture, he had to kill twenty Shanhai experts—or two cultivators at the Sun and Moon Realm! It was easy to say, but Liu Wenyan was currently only in the Tengkong Realm. How was he supposed to kill them? Beside Zheng Yuming, Huang Qifeng was also present, glaring at Su Yu with a dark, resentful gaze. Su Yu! Zheng Yuming, on the other hand, maintained a composed expression despite his lingering pallor. He looked at Su Yu and the others, smiled faintly, and suddenly said, “Su Yu, that day, I never truly intended to kill you. It was merely a misunderstanding. I hope that today, this misunderstanding can be laid to rest.” Pausing, Zheng Yuming chuckled softly. “The conflict between the Single and Multiple Divine Characters Factions has dragged on for many years, yet it was always kept within bounds. Neither side ever attempted to kill the other until recently, when injuries and deaths began piling up. That includes my teacher attempting to unearth Senior Zhang Ruoling’s grave to secure a divine character for me… I had no knowledge of it, and my teacher originally had no such intention either. It was all simply an accident!” Su Yu remained silent. Zheng Yuming didn't mind. Turning to Chen Yong, he smiled and remarked, “Curator Chen should understand that in some matters, we are all mere chess pieces. Alas, when someone moves us, we have no choice but to move.” Chen Yong responded calmly, “Elder Zheng speaks the truth.” “You must be heading to see Bai Feng and the others off?” Zheng Yuming said no more on the matter and smiled. “Go on, then. We are all chess pieces; our fates are not our own to command.” Chen Yong said nothing, leading Su Yu and Wu Jia past them as they walked on. Once they were gone, someone beside Zheng Yuming whispered, “Teacher, why bother saying all that to them…” Zheng Yuming smiled faintly. “Just venting some thoughts, that’s all!” With that, he glanced at his teacher, then looked up toward the towering Xiuxin Pavilion piercing the clouds. He smiled—a smile tinged with helplessness and self-mockery. Wan Tiansheng… In the end, this academy still answered to Wan Tiansheng. And this Great Xia Prefecture, in the end, still belonged to the Xia family. “Teacher…” He looked at Zhou Mingren and sent a voice transmission: “Teacher, your student is leaving. In this Great Xia Prefecture, our position may appear glorious and thriving, but in truth, we are merely roasting over an open flame! Wan and Xia both treat us as chess pieces, as does the Great Zhou Prefecture. Teacher, enter closed-door cultivation. Pay no heed to any of this anymore; reaching the Sun and Moon Realm is what matters most! Once you attain Sun and Moon, you will at least have some real foundation to stand on!” Zhou Mingren said nothing. “Teacher, isn’t your lifelong wish to reach Sun and Moon? The Single Divine Character Faction… let go of whatever needs to be abandoned for now! Dignity, heritage, foundations… none of it matters. If you break through to Sun and Moon, you can stage a comeback whenever you wish! “Let Elder Sun and the rest of them stir up whatever trouble they like!” Zhou Mingren nodded slightly, yet remained silent. With a complicated look in his eyes, Zheng Yuming cast one last glance at the Great Xia Civilization Academy. Smiling, he turned away and waved his hand. “There is no need to accompany me any further. If fate permits… we shall meet again!” If fate did not permit, they might never see each other again. Behind him, Huang Qifeng called out in sorrow, “Teacher…” “Focus on your cultivation and reach Tengkong as soon as you can!” Zheng Yuming said as he walked away. “Only in Tengkong does life truly become fascinating. Fighting to the death while still in Yangxing… dying like that isn't worth it in the slightest!” His words faded as his figure drifted into the distance. Several Guards fell into step behind him—four of them, all Lingyun experts. …… Eighteenth Middle School. At the intersection of the main thoroughfare. By the time Su Yu and Chen Yong arrived, Bai Feng and his companions had just emerged from the back mountain. A large crowd had gathered! Wu Yuehua, Hu Ping, Zhao Mingyue, Xia Yunqi… All of them were present, saying their goodbyes to Liu Wenyan. Meanwhile, Bai Feng stood off to the side, completely alone, looking utterly pathetic. The moment he spotted Su Yu and the others, Bai Feng perked up and called out happily, “My good disciple, you’re finally here! It’s been so long—your master missed you to death!” “……” Su Yu was torn between tears and laughter. Taking a step forward, he bowed slightly. “Teacher!” “Enough with the formalities; drop the courtesy!” Bai Feng was in quite good spirits. Looking at Chen Yong, he asked with a chuckle, “Senior Brother, did this kid cause any trouble while I was away?” “No,” Chen Yong said with a smile. “Even you managed not to cause trouble, so how could he?” “Listen to you!” Bai Feng laughed heartily. “I’m heading to the All-Heavens Battlefield any minute now. What trouble could I possibly cause? Killing enemies, that’s all!” Saying that, he turned back to Su Yu, sighing with regret. “It feels like I barely taught you anything before having to leave. What a pity. I thought maybe you’d come out of the mystic realm as a Tengkong cultivator, giving me one last burst of excitement to fulfill my wish… What a shame!” Su Yu smiled bitterly. Was that really necessary? He was still hung up on that even now! “Teacher, have your injuries healed?” “All healed,” Bai Feng replied with a smile. “They weren't severe to begin with. Just a shattered divine character and a drop in willpower. Nothing major. I’ll recover in no time and become an expert of the eighth or even ninth tier of Tengkong. It’s no big deal!” “But they’ve all become Lingyun experts…” Bai Feng was struck speechless. Why bring that up? Did he think Bai Feng didn't know? This kid really didn't know how to talk. “Lingyun is nothing special!” Bai Feng said dismissively. “Winning early doesn't mean winning in the end! It’s just that there are a few things your teacher didn't get the time or chance to finish. First, taking care of Shan Tianhao’s grandson. Second, settling scores with that bastard from the War Academy! If you had reached Tengkong… forget it, you probably couldn't beat them anyway. I’ll deal with them when I get back!” After chatting offhandedly for a moment, Bai Feng muttered, “What a shame, what a pity. Your teacher is heading off to war, yet I don't even have a lovely confidante to see me off. Just look…” He winked toward Liu Wenyan’s side. “Kid, don't take after your master. Learn from Teacher Liu… Tsk, tsk!” Bai Feng chuckled, but before the laugh had even fully left his mouth, Wu Yuehua glared at him. Instantly, Bai Feng’s face turned black—poisoned! Looking thoroughly helpless, he clasped his hands toward her in an apology before the blackness finally receded from his skin. Su Yu suppressed a laugh and said nothing. After a moment of thought, he said, “Teacher, recently I organized some research on the extraction of innate blood essence. Take a look and see if anything is amiss…” “Checking homework?” Bai Feng laughed. “I admit, I nearly forgot all about that.” With that, he took the jade talisman Su Yu handed him. Sinking his willpower inside to inspect it, Bai Feng’s eyes flickered slightly. He looked at Su Yu and chuckled. “My good disciple, you’ve researched this quite deeply!” Six sets of cultivation methods! Indeed, six sets: four cultural arts, one body-tempering art, and one Yuan-Purifying Art. Bai Feng was surprised, yet not entirely shocked. He merely felt a wave of emotion. This kid… at least he had remembered to give his teacher a parting gift before leaving. That wasn't easy. Quickly scanning through, Bai Feng memorized the cultivation methods, smiled, and crushed the jade talisman into dust. “Don't spread this around recklessly. Our research on innate blood essence is priceless; be careful not to let anyone steal it!” As the talisman shattered, the void trembled, thoroughly destroying any trace of the data. Only then did Bai Feng continue, “You did well. Your teacher has nothing to give you—I’m broke! I’ll see if I can slaughter a few gods and demons on the battlefield and bring back some blood essence for you…” Bai Feng grinned and added, “Also, let me give you a piece of advice: you can know a person’s face, but never their heart. When making friends out there, keep your guard up. You might have plenty of clever tricks, but your experience is still too shallow. Be careful not to get swindled.” “Understood,” Su Yu nodded. At that moment, Liu Wenyan finally broke away from his female companions and walked over. He looked at Su Yu, smiled, and nodded slightly. “Very good!” “Teacher Liu!” “No need for formalities!” Liu Wenyan waved his hand and smiled. “Back when Bai Feng wanted to take you as his disciple… to be frank, I didn't think it would have much impact on you. In the middle school, you had a quiet temperament. I thought that after coming here, you wouldn't get into conflicts with others and could simply conduct research alongside Bai Feng in peace. “Who could have foreseen… this?” Liu Wenyan sighed. He had never imagined that after Su Yu arrived, the Multiple Divine Characters Faction would be swept so rapidly into the center of the storm. Looking back now, bringing Su Yu into the Multiple Divine Characters Faction might not have been a good thing for him after all. Back then, he had worried the boy would have no one to rely on; now, he felt guilty for dragging him into muddy waters. Su Yu smiled. “Teacher, I’m very satisfied with my current environment!” Perhaps it lacked the raw-blooded fervor and purity of the War Academy, but at the Civilization Academy, Su Yu had truly learned a great deal and acquired invaluable understanding. “As long as you don't regret it!” Liu Wenyan chuckled, then added, “If you run into trouble, you can seek help from them—they are all my friends…” He glanced toward Xia Yunqi and the others before continuing, “As for your father on the All-Heavens Battlefield, you don't need to worry. Ordinary people dare not meddle with the military, and it is very difficult to drag military affairs into these disputes. Once we arrive on the All-Heavens Battlefield, if there’s a chance… Forget it. If we go visit your father, it will only bring him trouble.” He had originally thought about checking in on Su Long, but upon second thought, he abandoned the idea. There was no need to invite trouble for the man. “During all those years at the middle school, I never really taught you much. That day when you came here to rescue me… frankly, it caught me completely by surprise, and left me at a loss for words…” After thinking for a moment, Liu Wenyan pulled a jade talisman from his robes and handed it to Su Yu. “I have nothing grand to give you. These are some of my own insights gathered over the years. I am merely at Tengkong, so these insights aren't worth much—keep them as a keepsake.” Su Yu accepted it and hurriedly expressed his gratitude. “Thank you, Teacher!” Liu Wenyan smiled and said no more on the matter. Turning toward Wu Jia, he called out warmly, “Little girl, come here!” Wu Jia wasn't particularly familiar with Liu Wenyan, but she wasn't shy either. She stepped forward eagerly and said with a bright smile, “Greetings, Martial Granduncle!” Liu Wenyan laughed helplessly. “In the blink of an eye, I’ve grown so old I’m a martial granduncle! You’re different from your junior brother. Ever since he was young, he’s had his own ideas and opinions; he’s fairly dependable… But as for you, your grandmaster has told me about your temperament. Little girl, you’re too impatient. You must be more mindful of that in the future.” Wu Jia looked embarrassed and sheepish. Liu Wenyan smiled, retrieved a small box from his robes, and opened it to reveal a necklace. Smiling, he said, “This is for you! I don't possess many treasures either, so take this as a keepsake. Keep it on you. My master gave this to me back then, and now I pass it on to you…” Nearby, Chen Yong’s expression shifted slightly. He looked toward Hong Tan, but Hong Tan wasn't looking at him—his eyes were fixed entirely on that necklace. Liu Wenyan added with a chuckle, “It’s a bit ugly. My master—your great-grandmaster—didn't have the greatest sense of aesthetics. Don't hold it against him. Keep it as a memento, and if you ever decide you don't like it, don't throw it away—just return it to me.” “Martial Granduncle…” Wu Jia glanced toward Chen Yong. Chen Yong furrowed his brows slightly and looked at Liu Wenyan. Liu Wenyan said indifferently, “What? Do you have an objection?” “I wouldn't dare!” Chen Yong replied, his face still solemn. “Martial Uncle, this was given to you by Grandmaster; it is far too precious. Jiajia is somewhat careless… If she loses it, that would be terrible.” “Nonsense!” Liu Wenyan said with a laugh. “Girl, take it and hold onto it tightly. Don't lose it and give your master a reason to look down on you!” Wu Jia looked back toward Chen Yong once more. Chen Yong remained silent for a moment before nodding. “Accept it, then. Thank your martial granduncle.” “Thank you, Martial Granduncle!” Wu Jia accepted it with a grin. Liu Wenyan smiled. “Put it on so I can see!” Without hesitation, Wu Jia quickly fastened the necklace around her neck. Liu Wenyan chuckled. “It looks quite nice. It seems it was meant for a woman all along. Your great-grandmaster’s taste… and he gave it to me! Ah, well. Wear it well!” “Yes!” Wu Jia nodded vigorously. Beside them, Bai Feng smiled. Noticing Su Yu staring at the necklace, he kicked his disciple and sent a voice transmission with a laugh: “Stop staring at your senior sister’s chest! Careful or your martial uncle will teach you a lesson!” Su Yu was speechless! He was looking at the necklace; his teacher had such a dirty mind! He could tell the necklace was anything but ordinary. When Teacher Liu brought it out just now, even Grandmaster’s expression had changed. As if reading his thoughts, Bai Feng transmitted again, “Don't be envious or jealous. That’s something Teacher Liu gave Jiajia for protection. Inside it… is a defensive Sun and Moon divine character! Ordinary Shanhai experts could hardly break through it. Don't tell Jiajia. Teacher Liu had me detach it. All these years, my martial uncle has felt that he burdened everyone… There are some things, ah…” He sighed deeply. Were the events of the past truly Liu Wenyan’s fault? Not at all. Yet for the fifth-generation headmaster, and for the Multiple Divine Characters Faction, Liu Wenyan had borne far too much. Now his family was ruined, his kin dead, and he was forced to wander in exile. Bai Feng felt an overwhelming surge of sorrow and complicated emotions. “He didn't give it to you, but don't brood over it. With your personality, having something like that wouldn't do you much good anyway. If he gave it to you today, you’d dare to provoke Sun and Moon experts tomorrow… You’d end up getting beaten to death!” Su Yu was at a loss for words. *Teacher, do you really have so little faith in me?* *I’m not that kind of person!* *I’m keeping a very low profile right now!* After chatting a bit longer, Liu Wenyan smiled and said, “Let’s leave it at that. Even after traveling a thousand li, every send-off must come to an end! Until we meet again!” With that, he waved toward the distance. Several Longwu Guards quickly hurried over. Zheng Yuming had been escorted by the regular Guards, but Liu Wenyan and Bai Feng were being escorted by the Longwu Guards. “Chiliarch Zhang…” Liu Wenyan looked at the approaching guards and smiled at their leader. “We’ll be troubling you on the road.” “Lord Liu is too polite!” Chiliarch Zhang replied hastily. From the side, Zhao Mingyue suddenly spoke up. “My brother only sent the few of you?” “Eldest Miss…” Zhao Mingyue frowned. “There is no need to call me that. I’m not a member of the Xia family!” Her brother was a vice-general of the Longwu Guards. The Longwu Guards belonged to the Xia family, not to her. Zhao Mingyue pressed in a deep voice, “Just you few? My brother isn't escorting him personally?” Chiliarch Zhang answered promptly, “Eldest Miss, the General gave his orders. The few of us are enough. We will certainly protect Lord Liu. The Longwu Guards represent the Great Xia Prefecture; with us present, anyone who dares stir up trouble is openly challenging the Great Xia Prefecture itself!” Liu Wenyan smiled and said, “This is more than enough. Mingyue… don't make things difficult for them. Let us be on our way!” Zhao Mingyue felt somewhat unsatisfied and offered, “How about I escort you?” “No need,” Liu Wenyan said with a laugh. “It isn't that exaggerated. In fact, I’d welcome someone making a move against me and the Longwu Guards. If that happens, the Xia family won't tolerate it. Do they really think King Daxia has stopped minding affairs?” Beside them, Wu Yuehua snapped irritably, “Relying on the Xia family? Forget it! If it comes to that, I’ll escort you!” “No, please don't!” Liu Wenyan quickly refused with a smile. “None of you need to escort me!” Nearby, Bai Feng was practically dripping with jealousy. He gave Su Yu another kick! Su Yu wore an innocent look and asked tentatively, “Teacher, should I escort you to the All-Heavens Battlefield?” *Is he really that jealous?* *Unbelievable!* The next instant, Bai Feng bellowed, “Nonsense! You escorting me to the All-Heavens Battlefield? What cultivation do you even have? Stay in the academy and cultivate properly! Don't talk nonsense next time!” With that, he puffed out his chest and smiled smugly. *Martial Uncle, don't show off—I have someone seeing me off too; I just couldn't be bothered to let them escort me.* Su Yu was torn between tears and laughter, while Hong Tan on the other side was completely speechless. This disciple of his… was truly beyond help. Liu Wenyan didn't bother paying him any mind. Bidding farewell to everyone once more, he took a step forward. “I’m off. I will do everything in my power to preserve my life until I return. If I fail to return… then let the Multiple Divine Characters Integration Faction follow its course; let it disband if it must!” At these words, everyone felt a pang of sorrow in their hearts. Wu Yuehua cursed, “That wretched mouth of yours never knows when to stop!” Liu Wenyan, however, had come to terms with it all. He laughed heartily. “I’m just speaking off the cuff—dying isn't that easy! Plenty of people want me dead, yet… aren't I still alive?” He let out a few boisterous laughs! Then, Liu Wenyan called out loudly, “I am heading to the All-Heavens Battlefield! If you have business with me, come at me! My master’s divine characters, my master’s secrets—they are all with me! If I die, the Multiple Divine Characters Faction will naturally disperse; but so long as I live, the Multiple Divine Characters Faction will never be extinguished! “Let’s go!” With a booming laugh, Liu Wenyan strode forward. Bai Feng laughed as well, falling into step beside him. Ahead of them, the figure of an elderly man flashed into view. With tears glistening in his eyes, Liu Wenyan gave a slight nod. The old man smiled faintly, then vanished into the shadows in an instant. It was a survivor of the Liu family! Liu Wenyan’s eldest uncle! At this moment, he was clearing the road ahead for them. All around, various figures flickered into sight. Marquis Xia, Wan Tiansheng, Chief Hu, Academy Head Zheng, Director Ji… Many figures revealed themselves briefly, watching him depart. Liu Wenyan was gone! Heading to the All-Heavens Battlefield! A minor figure who tugged at the heartstrings of the Great Xia Prefecture—and indeed, the entire human realm—was setting off today for the All-Heavens Battlefield. Yes, a minor figure. His strength was modest, yet he stirred the hearts of countless individuals. This journey would likely be fraught with peril and hardships, a path with no return. Standing among the crowd, Su Yu watched them leave. Both men had exerted a profound influence on his path of cultivation, yet today, they were stepping onto a road of uncertain life and death. On this journey, before they even reached the All-Heavens Battlefield, they might already encounter troubles and crises. “Dad… Teacher…” Most of the people he cared about had now departed for the All-Heavens Battlefield. That legendary battlefield he had heard so much about, yet had never seen with his own eyes.